Rim for musical instruments



(No Model.)

0. W. LENNOX. RIM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Patented Nov. 5, 1895.

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CHARLES \V. LENNOX, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

RIM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,141, dated November 5, 1895. Application filed January 29, 1895. Serial No. 536,571. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. LENNoX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rims for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the class of stringed instruments which have a skin drawn tightly over a rim and held by adjustable hooks, such as banjos, banjays, banjolins, banjorines, and similar musical instruments.

The object of the invention is to produce a simple, cheap, and strong instrument of this class with a rim that has a smooth exterior that is, a rim without anyprojecting brackets or exposed nuts.

To this end the invention resides in details of the construction of an instrument having a rim that is perforated from edge to edge to receive the ends of the head-tightening hooks and the nuts on the shanks of the hooks, as more particularly hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the head of an instrument made according to the invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section through a partof the rim.

In the construction embodying the invention shown in the drawings the rim is formed of a circular band of wood 1 with a metallic ring 2 around the bottom edge and a metallic ring 3 around the top edge. The ring 3 preferably has a flat face resting upon the top of the wooden band and an upright part, over the edge of which is drawn the head 4, of skin or other suitable material. The head is held in place by a hoop 5, that encircles the upright part of the ring 3, and this hoop is drawn down so as to stretch the head by means of the hooks 6, that are located at suitable distances apart around the rim. The wooden band and the two metallic rings are perforated from edge to edge at suitable intervals, and the long shanks of the hooks are thrust through these perforations. The lower portions of the perforations, usually in the bot tom metallic ring, are enlarged for the reception of the nuts 7, thatscrew on the threaded ends of the hooks to hold them in place. The enlargement or the sockets in the lower ring are deep enough to receive the holding-nuts, so that they will not project beyond the surface, and these sockets are sufficiently larger than the nuts to permit the insertion of an ordinary key for turning the nuts, so that they can be tightened or loosened to regulate the pull of the hooks on the head-stretching hoop.

To the rim is attached any ordinary neck 8, having the common frets and keys, and suit able strings are stretched over the head across a bridge in the manner common with this class of musical instruments. By means of this construction the head can be drawn down as tightly as desired, or it can be easily loosened for replacing or substituting a new head, and there are no projecting brackets to catch in the apparel or wear out the clothing when the instrument is being used. Vith the ends of the hooks and the nuts buried in this manner the rim is not only smooth on the exterior but the parts are held together very firmly, so that the tone of the instrument is improved, and there can be no loosening and subsequent rattling of the parts should the wood shrink, if the instrument remains in a particularly dry place for any length of time.

A banjo constructed as described is stronger than with the ordinary brackets, for the hooks and metallic rings aid in holding the wooden band together and in shape. The construction is cheap and the parts retain their shape and condition under all conditions of temperature and atmosphere. The head can easily be tightened or loosened on any side by turning the nuts, and these nuts are so concealed that there is no danger of catching them in a watch-chain or other part and causing trouble.

I claim as my invention- 1. A musical instrument having a perforated rim consisting of a wooden band and a metallic stretching ring upon the upper edge of the band, a skin head stretched across the metallic ring, a hoop for retaining the head stretched in place, hooks engaging said hoop and passing through the perforations of the metallic ring and wooden band from edge to edge, and nuts screwed upon the shanks of the hooks and concealed Within the rim, substantially as specified.

2. A musical instrument having a perforated rim consisting of a wooden band with a metallic stretching ring upon the upper edge and ametallie shaping ring on the lower edge,

a skin head stretched across the upper 111etallic ring, a hoop for retaining the head 10 stretched in place, hooks engaging said hoop and passing through the perforations of the metallic rings and wooden band, and nuts screwed upon the shanks of the hooks and concealed within the lower ring, substantially as specified.

CHARLES XV. LENNOX.

itnesses H. R. XVILLIAMs, E. J. HYDE. 

